Today's Paper
» NATIONAL
» TAMIL NADU

Delta ryots seek more water

PUDUKOTTAI: Farmers of the Cauvery delta region in the district have urged the Public Works Department to dispense with the turn system for discharge of irrigational waters to the samba crop.

Though the discharge from Mettur Dam started as early as July 22, the waters have not yet reached the tail-end areas in the district due to the turn-system, they said at the farmers’ grievance day meeting held here on Friday.

Collector D. Uthirakkumaran, who presided over the meeting, assured the farmers that a special meeting would be held with the PWD officials of the Grand Anicut Canal Divison, Thanjavur, to sort out the issue.

Earlier, initiating a discussion, district secretary of the CPI-led Tamizhnadu Vivasayigal Sangam S.P. Muthukumaran said the tail-end ayacutdars of Neduvasal Eesanviduthi channel were worst hit by the turn-system.

President of the Federation of the Pudukottai District Kallanai Kaalvai Ayacutdars Associations A. Ramasamy said that for the first time after several years, a maximum of 3,700 cusecs had been discharged through the Grand Anicut, following the full tank level registered at the Mettur Dam. He pleaded for discharge of 550 cusecs from the Merpanaikadu channel and 350 cusecs from the Nakudi channel. The turn-system should be dispensed with to benefit the farmers in the tail-end.

District chairman of the Farmers’ Forum of India G.S. Dhanapathy pleaded for steps for the discharge of more water through the Anicut canal.

The Collector said a meeting would be held with PWD engineers by next week to sort out the problem.